Thursday, January 31, 2013

Tree Frog Completed

Here is my completed tree frog collage, ready to post in my Etsy Shop.  Now back to my oil paints, which go much faster!


posted by Carmen

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

More Collage Demo

Femme Fatale
As Donna said, we both talked about collage at the Cape Canaveral Pen Women meeting. There are so many kinds of collage, and I was taught by Derek Gores, so it's very different from Donna's style. Her way has no rules, and mine has Derek's rules. In actuality, it can be anything the artist wants to do, but certain things I learned from Derek stuck, and I like the effect I get. For instance, he says, "Don't use the thing for the thing." Don't use a picture of lips for the lips, for example. 

Below is a partially completed collage of a tree frog that I used to show the process. I sketch my subject then draw over it with a Sharpie so that I don't lose my drawing while slapping paper and glue around. One thing I like is the fact that the paper wrinkles don't matter. I like anything in which wrinkles don't matter. In fact, they add interest and character. Learn to love the wrinkles. 
posted by Carmen



Saturday, January 26, 2013

Collage Demo

Today Carmen Beecher and I gave a talk to the Cape Canaveral Pen Women about collage. We both have very different styles so we were able to cover several methods of this versatile medium My style is to use many different types of paper depending on the subject and the mood I am trying to convey. I use everything from tissue to sheet music to old road maps. I also like to hand color papers when I can.
I brought in several examples of my collages so they could see my methods and how I tried to "paint a picture" using paper.

This Teapot was a good example of using both magazines papers and other found papers, including an actual teabag label.


This Farmscene has lots of texture. I loved the paper I used for the sky, it reminded me of Van Gogh's Starry Night.



















Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Painting at the Guild continues


The Pieces of 8 spent another awesome Monday painting at the Guild. What a wonderful, exciting place for artists to work. We're surrounded by easels, benches, props and the incredible work of other artists. 

We thoroughly enjoy the time together. And, yes, everyone is still "doing their own thing." For a change, instead of just posting a single picture of each person's activity, I put the first picture I took of someone working together with the last picture of that person for the session.  I know the pictures are small, but if you click on a picture, it will show a larger view. 



Not all of my pictures turned out, so I didn't get everyone's progress, but there's always next week!

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Tree Frog, 6x6

If there were a prize for Cutest Reptile, I think the tree frogs would win. Their faces, their cute bulbous toes, their big eyes--adorable! This was really fun to paint.
posted by Carmen

Friday, January 18, 2013

Cindy's Geraniums, Small Floral Still Life, 6x8" Oil

The weather has been rather dark and gloomy lately, so today I am posting a bright and cheery painting.  I hope it brightens your day!

$95 + 6.50




I was able to enjoy these geraniums last summer while visiting my friend, Cindy, at her mountain retreat.  The scenery was stunning from her balcony and every morning the sun would strike these flowers and make them glow.  The perfect place to sit and have that morning coffee.


I almost always show my paintings in a simple black frame.  I think it really allows the colors to pop and doesn't distract from the painting.  Since I also tone my canvases in black, it adds another dimension to the painting too.  What type of frames to do use on your work?


www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Fun in class with doodles

The women in my class love to try experimenting, so last week I suggested they doodle - with colored pencils, watercolors, regular pencils, pens or brushes, and then paint their designs.  Some of them got a bit carried away - one even sprayed her first wash with glass cleaner!  The effect was interesting, but we wondered how it would affect the paper.





Here are some of the finished works.  It was a fun lesson, and I think some of them will try this again on their own.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Zentangle


I wasn't feeling well so instead of painting, I sat on the couch and did a Zentangle. This is very addictive.













When I met with the Pieces of 8, I decided to paint it with watercolors.

Which one do you like best? I can't decide.

Posted by Carmen


Monday, January 14, 2013

Another Beautiful Day at the Guild

The Pieces met at the Guild today for another painting session. Everyone is still doing their own thing, but we had fun discussions about future trips and projects.

A toast to Denette who has worked incredibly hard to regain her awesome skills as an award winning oil painter of all things beautiful. She's baaaack!

Cindy sets up to paint a San Francisco scene.
 I have some fun with a pen on watercolor paper.
 Phillis is making major progress on her oil painting of a pumpkin - oh the detail!
 Mary is working on a watercolor series of famous local buildings.
Carmen gets into the Zentangle movement after a challenge by Carole Marine on Daily Paintworks.  If you want to know more about the challenge, click here on the word Zentangle.
Carol is painting one of my favorite Brevard beach birds, the sandwich terns. They're those ones that hang out on our beaches in large groups this time of year, all facing the same way, all standing in the same position, and all sporting their winter "hair" that makes them look like they're at a Groucho Marx Convention.
 Donna is plotting the layout for another one of her super collages.

I'd love to post the results of everyone's hard work here, but next week, most will be on to another project and I probably won't get an updated photo. So, Pieces, post a finished view here when you can!

And, last but not least, Fay, we missed you!

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Rhododendron Blossoms, 6x8 Small Floral Still Life

Still painting flowers!  Hope you have not tired of them yet.  I will try to break up the flower posts with other subject matter, just to keep you awake.

$95 + 6.50


This petite bouquet of rhododendron blossoms grew next to my house in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  I snipped a few and placed them in a jelly jar on my kitchen window sill.  I love the effect of the darkened flowers with the bright light flowing in behind them.


My goal with these little works is to keep strong basic shapes and let the viewer's eye fill in missing pieces.  As you can see from this photo, the paint is thick and the strokes are few.

Happy Saturday to you!



www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Checking the Chicks!

Checking the Chicks
24 x 24, on salvaged tin ceiling tile
unframed, ready to hang
 
I'm having a little too much fun lately with chickens!  This is Brave Betty and Annie making another appearance, this time on a large piece of ceiling tin.  I used to want a tin ceiling so playing with these pieces that I can get ahold of is the next best thing.  Trouble is, there is a lot of prep work in making the tin "clean" enough to receive the paint and then treating it to assure the paint will adhere.
 
But I am growing rather fond of these two models....I have photos of them in several postures and by the time I am finished painting them I am certain I know exactly what is on their minds!  Stayed tuned for more...and pretty soon maybe I will find a rooster to add to the collection.
 
Cindy Michaud
 
p.s. if you are interested in this piece just send me a note at art@cindymichaud.com

Monday, January 7, 2013

Painting in the New Year

Today the Pieces finally got together to paint in the new year. At some point we may get back to doing an exercise, but right now everyone is doing their own thing. It's so fun just to be part of this group - interesting work going on all around.

Carmen is creating a beautiful oil painting of grapes from one of her North Carolina photos. Visit the Art and Antique Studio in downtown Eau Gallie this month for a closer look at Carmen's oil paintings.

Carol is working on an amazing backlit oil painting of a flower pot. Her series of these is quite lovely and can be seen by clicking on the Carol Schiff Blog link at lower right of the page.

Cindy is searching her psyche for the meaning of pears. When she finishes sketching, hopefully she will paint a few of them and then we'll be in on it, too. You can click on her blog link on this page to keep up with Cindy's latest, also.

Denette, ever the master of detail, is meticulously sketching in a water lily for a future oil painting.

Kathy is watercoloring another doodle.

Mary is working on at least three watercolors today!

Phillis, also meticulous, is oil painting a pumpkin from one of her North Carolina images.

We're just missing Donna and Fay and hope they join us next week.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

We come, we see, we paint!

Yeah, painting tomorrow. Long time, no paint. (OK. We can talk a little, too!) Can't wait to see everyone at the Guild. I'll be posting pictures at the end of the day.

Friday, January 4, 2013

Meet Carmen Tonight in Eau Gallie!

The opening of a new show by our member, Carmen Beecher, is in Eau Gallie tonight at the Arts and Antiques Gallery. The show "Highlands to Islands" features beautiful works by Carmen created on site in the mountains of North Carolina, the beaches of Brevard, and from her many travel photos and resources. We get to watch her paint once a week and it's amazing to see her pictures come to life. 

The photo above is from Carmen's live demonstration at the Pieces of 8 Annual Holiday Sale.

Enjoy the wonderful First Friday tonight in Eau Gallie and be sure to drop in and say hello to Carmen at the Art and Antique Studio and Gallery, 1419 Highland Avenue - across the street from Ralph's Art Supply! The fun starts at 5:30 p.m.

Ballard Park, Original Oil on Canvas

  I had not painted outside in two years, so this was quite a challenge. It was one of those paintings I had to improve upon in the studio. ...